Switch and signal mechanism.



No. 673,379. Patented May 7, l90l. m. L. BYE'RS & T. SHAFER.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

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SWITCH AND ISIGNAL MECHANISM.

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Patented May 7, IBM.

M. L. BYERS & T. SHAFER.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

(Application filed Dec. 4, 1900.)

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No. 673,379. Patnted May 7, mm. a m. L. BYEBS & T. SHAFER.

SWITCH ANDSIGNAL MECHANISM,

(Application filed Dec, 4, 1900.1 (Io ludel.)

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Zr, 4. m fd m: NORRIS PETERS ca. moioumm wnsumm'om A c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON L. BYERS AND THEODORE snares, or LoeANsPoRr, INDIANA.

swlrc AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,379, dated May 7, 1901.

Application filed December 4, 1900. Serial No. 38,604. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MORTON L. BYERs and THEODORE SHAFER, residents of Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented certain ,new and useful Improvements in Switch and Signal Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides improved means for operating andinterlocking switch and sig- 11 a1 apparatus. It is adapted for interlocking a distant signal with the switch. This is important where a switch is so situated that it cannot be seen from an approaching trainin time to stop if found open when it becomes necessary to place an advance signal at sufficient distance from the switch to give ample notice of its position. For safety it is desirable to use such a mechanism that before the switch can be moved at all from the closed position the distant signal must be placed at danger and secured in that position by the slightest movement in opening the switch. It is also adapted for use as a facing-point look. In an interlocking plant it is frequently necessary to throw a switch by means of a pipe-line operated from a tower or distant point from which there are no means for determining whether the switch has actually moved to exactly its required position. Here a second mechanism is desirable for determining that the switch has operated properly and also for locking the switch when thrown to insure greater safety. It is adapted, further, for efiecting the switch and lock movement or for performing by a single lever the operations of unlocking the switch, throwing the switch to a new position, and locking the switch in the new position.

The nature and further purposes of our im provements will more fully appear from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in illustration thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of the mechanism connecting a signal set at proceed and the closed switch. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a signal set at danger prior to opening the switch. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the signal held at danger with the switch open. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the interlocking mechanism, taken on the line "iiofFi 5.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the interlocking mechanism, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of theinterlocking disks. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the interlocking disks in the relation corresponding to the position of the signal and switch illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the interlocking disks in the relationcorresponding to the position of the signal and switch illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the interlocking disks in the relation corresponding to the position of the signal and switch illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 10is aplan view of the interlocking mechanism in the relation shown in side elevation in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the interlocking mechanism in the relation shown in side elevation in Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the interlocking mechanism in the relation shown in side elevation in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the invention,in which a switch is locked in closed position by mechanism independent of the switch-throwing mechanism. Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 13 with the closed switch unlocked. Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14 with the switch thrown to the open position and unlocked. Fig. 16 is a view showing the relation of the disks for locking the switch in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a view of the disks in the unlocked position for permitting the switch to be thrown, as shown in Fig. 14:. Fig. 18 is a view of the position of the disks after the switch has been thrown, as shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 19 is a view of the disks in their relation for locking the switch in the open position. Fig. 20 is a plan view of a further modification of the inventionfor unlocking, shifting, and locking the switch by a single lever, the parts being shown as looking the switch in closed position. Fig. 21 is a plan view showing the second position of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20 with the locking-disk thrown to position permitting the switch to be opened. Fig. 22 is a plan view showing the third position of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20 in the position occupied when the switch has been opened, and Fig. 23 is a plan view showing the fourth position of the mechanism illustrated. in. Fig. 20 imthe position. oecupied wlieuthe. switch has. been. l'ockedtirr the open position. 1

Referring to Figs. 1 to 12, incl'usive,jof the drawings, there is shown the main track 1, having a switch. 2 therein, the approachto which is guarded by the distant-signal 3.

-The switch2 and signal 3 are so connected by the interlocking mechanisnr'4 that the; switchcannot be opened until the signal is set at danger, in which position it is locked by the operation ofi throwing the-.switch. to: the open position. This is accomplished by 1 providing a pair of disks 5 and 6,.wliich are fixed on the respective axles 7 and 8, journaled-as inthe'casing9. These dis-ks have the respectivenotches 'and1 1 formed there inandare placed so that whenthetwonotches are brought together in exact registration either disk may be turned to lock the other, the distance between the centers'of the disks being less than thesuni 0fthelrra'dii andthe notch ofeach being formed to fit the periphery ofthe other; -The axle 7 has'a-lever 1'2 fixed thereto, which:- is connectedto usualmechanism 13 for operating the-switch 2, sothat when the'lev er is turned-the switch is thrown and the disk 5 is revolved. The axle 8 has1a lever14- switch-is closed-or set'forthemain track'and the signal isdown or at safety, as show-ni'm Fig. l,the'interlocking-inechanism is in thep ositionillustrated'inFigs. 7 and-1'1 theswitchdisk"5, and theret-hrough the switch2; being" locked by thesignal-diskh, thes-ignal-disk on being turned to-move thesignal'tosafety having engaged the notch of the switch-disk.

It w-ill'be seen that thesignal-disk, and consequently the signal; cannot be moved to safety from the danger position unless the switch is fully closed and-the disks andtheir connecti'onsinthe position shown in Figs. 8 and 10, in which position-theslightest movement of the signal locks the switch. When it-is desired to open the switch, before this can-be done thesignal-diskfi mustbe turned to the position illustrated in Figs. Sand 10,

which moves the signal to-the danger position, asillustrated in=Fig. 2,- when the mechanism may be turned to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 12. The slightest revolution of the disk 5 to open the-switch locks the signal-disk at danger, Where it is heldw-hile the switch-is open by the engagement of'thedisk 5 withthe notch 11. If desired, a movable segmental block 16, fittingthespace formed bybringingtogetherthe two notches,

asshown in Fig. 4, may be employed for the purpose of holding the locked diskin a fixed position at all times during the revolution'of the locking-disk if turned in the opposite direction from that described.

In the modification illustrated by Figs. 13 to=19, inclusive, in which separate mechanisms are. employed for throwingandlocking the: switch, thethrowing operati'bm is performed by means of a lever 17, connected by the usual pipe-line 18 with the switch 19, and thelocking is effected by operating a lever 20, connected. with the switch by. the. rods.21 and22and the disks 2'3 and 24. The rod-2l connects the lever with a crank-pin 25 on thed-isk.2:3,,whichrevolves about the center 26, and the rod 22 connects the switch 19' with a'crank-pin 27 on the disk 24, which rev;,v ol.v.es about the center-28z. Thedisk 23 has a notch 29 formed therein, adapted to fit the periphery of the disk' 24, while the disk 24 has two notches 30 and 31 formed therein, each adapted to=fi't-' the'peripheryof the disk 23. When the-switch islocked i'nthe' closed position, as illustrated in Fig; 13, the lock lug-disks occupy'the relation illustrated in Fig. 1 6, the periphery. of the'disk 2-3 engag ingthenotch 30 of the-dis-k 24 Theswitch cannot now beopened' by'operating' the lever :1'7'until the locking-'lever20 has=been thrown to thepositionillustratedinFigs P4, bywhich the disk 23; connected therewith, is turned toathe position shownin Fig. 1.7 As: the notches 29'aud 30 are nowin exact registra tion the lever- 17 can be thrownand= thesw-ltchopened, as illustratedin Fig: 15, the full' throwof theswitchv moving. the disk '24 to t-he position: illnstrated in Fig; 18: The

'gthe lockunless the switch is f-ully tlirown;

Iirt-he modification illustrated in Figs. 20 to=23;inclusive-inwhich*t'liestritohisthrown and'locked by a singleoper-ation; the switch 32 isoperated by a rod 33, havingan eccentric connectionwith the revolub1'e-dis-k--.v 34-,

whichis providedwith notch- 35, adapted itofit' the periphery-of a revoluble' disk 36.

The disk 36 "has anotch 37thereon', adapted to fit: theperiphery of the disk 34, and*is connected w-ith the disk 34 by a lever 38; the=1ever beingpivoted at 39 to-the dis-k 34 and having a slotted connection 40 with a pin' 41 in the disk 36. The lever 38' may beeperated directly orindirectly through the connecting-rod-42'and the le-ver'43. With the mechanism in the position illus-trated'in Fig; 20 the switch is locked in-closed position by theengagement of the notch 35 of the disk 34 with the periphery of the'disk' 36; To throw the switch, the movement of the lever 43 first turns-the lever 38' about the point 39 as a fulcrum until the'disk- 36 has been turnedito the position illustrated in Fig. 21, when it cango nofarther, by-reasonof its engagement with theperiph'ery of-the disk 34. The point-41 now becomes the-fulcrum, and the further movement of the levers-turns the disk 34 and throws the switch to theposition illustrated in Fig. 22.

then looked in this position by thefurther movement of the levers, when the point 39- The switch isagain becomes the fulcrum and the disk 36 is turned to the locked position illustrated in Fig. 23.

Having described our invention, we claim- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of two revoluble plain disks having substantially parallel axes, each of said disks having a peripheral notch adapted for receiving and engaging the other of said disks, the engagement of one of said notches locking its disk against mot-ion in either direction, a switch connected to one of said disks, mechanism for moving said switch and the disk connected therewith, and mechanism for moving the other of said disks for the purpose set forth, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the character described, a switch, a revoluble notched plain disk connected to and movable with said switch, a second revoluble notched plain disk adapted to be engaged by said first disk and held thereby against movement in either direction,

' said disks having their axes substantially parallel, and mechanism connected with said second disk for indicating at a distant point the position of said switch, substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the character described, a switch, a revoluble notched plain disk connected to and movable with said switch, a second plain disk notched to permit said first disk to turn therein and adapted for locking said first disk and switch, said first disk being notched so that said switch is locked in both closed and open positions, substantially as specified.

4. In a device of the character described, a switch, a revoluble disk connected to and movable therewith, a second revoluble disk having a peripheral notch within which said first disk is adapted to revolve, said first disk being notched to permit its engagement and locking by said second disk in two distinct positions of said switch, substantially as specified.

5. In a device of the character described, a switch, a revoluble notched disk connected to and movable therewith, a second revoluble notched disk, a distant lever connected with said second disk, said first disk being notched to permit its engagement and locking by said second disk in two distinct positions of said switch, su bstantially as specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17 th day of November, 1900.

MORTON L. BYERS. THEODORE SHAFER.

Witnesses:

L. E. SMART, O. M. ABBOTT. 

